John 8:12–59

  ¹² Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” ¹³ The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.” ¹⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. ¹⁵ You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. ¹⁶ And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. ¹⁷ It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. ¹⁸ I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” ¹⁹ Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.” ²⁰ These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come. ²¹ Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” ²² So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?” ²³ And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. ²⁴ Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” ²⁵ Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. ²⁶ I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” ²⁷ They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. ²⁸ Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. ²⁹ And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” ³⁰ As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. ³¹ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ³³ They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” ³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵ And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. ³⁶ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. ³⁷ “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. ³⁸ I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” ³⁹ They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. ⁴⁰ But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. ⁴¹ You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” ⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. ⁴³ Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. ⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. ⁴⁵ But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. ⁴⁶ Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? ⁴⁷ He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” ⁴⁸ Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” ⁴⁹ Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. ⁵⁰ And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. ⁵¹ Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” ⁵² Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ ⁵³ Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?” ⁵⁴ Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. ⁵⁵ Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” ⁵⁷ Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” ⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” ⁵⁹ Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Commentary

Vs. 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

 Having pardoned the woman caught in adultery Jesus now in the treasury of the Temple speaks to crowds that were following Him saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Which itself is stunning statement and revelation not only about Jesus’ Person, but also the Power of God, the Power of the Word of God to transform lives. That is first believes in Him they will have the light of life (seeing then all things new and clearly) for being born-again by His Spirit, and thus being set free from sin and Satan and all the powers of darkness, we are now not only enabled to follow Him in discipleship. For we can now see Him and know Him and His works and ways and thus follow Him wherever He goes. Now that Jesus is the Light of the World means that He alone not only radiates all that is of God, but He also He illuminates, and thus brings forth, all that is and comes from God. Thus, just like the Sun in the heavens sky illuminating the earth, so is the Son of God illuminating God in heaven to darkened mankind. For Jesus Christ alone shines like a lighthouse on a hill illuminating the way to get safely home, and so Jesus Christ is the only beacon of hope for this world which is cloaked in sin and Satan’s darkness. For Jesus is the Light of the World, the Light that penetrates all darkness, therefore if anyone follows Him, they shall not walk in darkness; that is walk (as a manner of life) in the realm where sin and Satan rule, and thus where one is either enslaved by the one, or is being manipulated by the other to destroy themselves and others, rather they will have the light of life! For the Lord Jesus Christ is Light and Life and He alone brings the same to one and all who believe in Him!

Vs. 13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”

 Now when the Pharisees heard Jesus say these things instead of being moved by His Words, they only found fault with Him, saying to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.” They then by saying as much are rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ’s testimony because He is bearing witness of Himself in their eyes. However, they all heard John the Baptists testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ who declared Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of world, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 1:29-34). As well Jesus Himself already told the Jews that they have both the Scripture, as well as God Himself who bears witness to Him through His Word and Works (John 5:31-47) Therefore the Pharisees so called “legal challenge” to Jesus’ testimony based on the Law that two or more witnesses is required is completely without grounds and merit in this case. For as we will see both God the Father in heaven and the Son of God on earth bear witness of Him, and there can be no greater witnesses then these!

Vs. 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.

 Now in answering their “legal challenge” to His testimony, Jesus without hesitation or reservation now says to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.” For the Lord Jesus Christ having come from heaven and going to return to heaven, is Eminently more qualified to speak and testify of God in heaven, to give testimony of Himself than anyone else! For Truly only God can rightly testify of Himself, and so to be questioned by mere mortal men, who have never seen God, nor come forth from God, nor even know God is simply exasperating!

Vs. 15 “You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.”

 Jesus then continues His Just defense saying that they (the Pharisees) only judge according to the flesh, but He judges no one. And so, unlike how they only judge people according to what they outwardly see, Jesus judges no one, that is He judges no one that way, and certainly not Himself that way!

Vs. 16 “And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.”

 Jesus now says that though He does not judge, even if He did judge His judgment would be true, for He does judge in of Himself, (that is independently), rather He judges in accord with the Father in heaven, for it is God the Father who is always with Him, and who sent Him.

Vs. 17-18 ¹⁷ It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. ¹⁸ I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”

 Since the Pharisees were citing a principal in the Law of Moses to reject Jesus’ Testimony, Jesus now cites to them the very same principal which says that the testimony of two men is true, and so Jesus is One who bears witness of Himself, and the Father who sent Him bears witness of Him (vs. 18). Thus, there are no more credible witnesses then these!

Vs. 19 Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”

The Pharisees though are blind to all of this, to not only Jesus’ Person, but also to God the Father, and so when Jesus said His Father Testifies of Him, they could only think of a human father, and so not seeing him they say to Jesus, “where is your father?” Jesus then in responding to them makes it clear that they know neither Him the Son of God, nor God His Father in heaven! For as He says if they had known Him they would also know His Father in heaven for God, for both Father and are One!

Vs. 20 “These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.”

 Here the location where Jesus spoke these words is given us, it was in the treasury, that is the area in the Temple called the “court of the woman” where woman were not allowed to proceed any further into the Temple unless for sacrifice purposes. Now it was here where the thirteen golden trumpets were placed where the people deposited their offerings into them. And so, this was a large public area that was surrounded by a colonnade and from which Jesus often taught (gleaned from Word studies in the N.T). Notice too that though He taught these things openly in the Temple no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come. That is the time for His Crucifixion, for God will not allow that to happen until the appointed time.

Vs. 21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”

 Now Jesus continued His discourse with the Jews in the Temple and so He said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” Here in a simple statement Jesus foretells first His return to the Father in heaven, while they’re still seeking Him, that is the Christ, but they will not find Him because they do not believe in Him, that is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who is their Messiah. Therefore, Jesus also says that they will die in their sin, that is die spiritually dead in their sins and transgressions, and thus die alienated from God in heaven. And so, when Jesus goes back to God the Father in heaven they cannot come there, because no one having died in their sin can be later redeemed, but is then subject to eternal condemnation in hell!

Vs. 22 So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?”

 When the Jews heard Jesus say those things to them they did not repent, nor even fear what He had just spoken to them, but instead they became very insulting and antagonistic towards Him, saying amongst themselves, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?”

Vs. 23-24 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. ²⁴ Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

 Having then heard their insults, Jesus does not hesitate to point out to them that they are from beneath, but He is from above, for He is not of this world, for His origins are from heaven, and thus He wasn’t born into its sin, and so He neither stands for it, nor defends it (vs. 23). However, they are only of this world, and thus they only live, and walk, and think, according to the ruler of it! Therefore, Jesus tells and warns them once again that they will die in their sins, because if they do not believe that He is the Messiah (i.e. the Christ) they will die in their sins!

Vs. 25-26 ²⁵ Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. ²⁶ I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”

 They though understand none of this, and so once again they asked Jesus, “Who are You?” The Lord Jesus though does not declare His Person to them, but instead in accord with their own antagonistic unbelief, they now receive diminishing revelations about Him; that is their eyes and ears will be shut to Him. And so, in answering their question about Him instead of reaffirming His Person to them, Jesus now only says to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.” ^{Vs. 25} Jesus then tells them of their upcoming judgment, that He has many things to say and judge concerning them, and having said as much He says that God who sent Him is true (unlike them), and thus He is worthy to be believed! That said, Jesus now says that He only speaks those things to the world that He heard from Him (vs. 26). Thus, there is nothing that proceeds from Jesus’ mouth that does not originate with God the Father in heaven!

 Vs. 27 “They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.”

 However, the Jews refused to see Jesus for who He truly is, and so they could not understand Him, that He just spoke to them of God the Father in heaven.

Vs. 28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

 Jesus now foretells to them His own Crucifixion death at their hands, saying “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.” Thus, not until they Crucify Him will they begin to see that He is the Son of God, and that He did nothing of Himself, but as the Father taught Him so He spoke! Now we first see this at the Crucifixion sight when Jesus having died, the people their begin to say, truly this was the Son of God! (Matt 27:54; Mark 15:37-39; Luke 23:47-48)

Vs. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”

 Even though Jesus just foretold of His Crucifixion death at their hands it would not be because God the Father had forsaken Him, because Jesus had disobeyed Him, for as He says here, “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” Thus, in sending Jesus to be born and live and dwell amongst sinful humanity, God the Father at no time left Jesus alone, for their relationship continued on down here, and was continuing, and would continue because as Jesus says “I always do those things that please Him.” Thus, at no time would sin ever enter into the equation of their eternal and everlasting loving relationship! Therefore, not until Jesus Christ’s Crucifixion death would Jesus by necessity experience a separation from His Father.

 Vs. 30 “As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.”

 The Lord Jesus Christ’s Words were so compelling that many believed in Him. However, the depth of one’s belief is often only revealed later.

 Vs. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed."

 Seeing then that many had now believed in Him, Jesus now tells the Jews that believing in Him means abiding in His Word. For only then can one be said to be His disciple, for profession of faith in Him is not discipleship, but abiding in His Word is.

 Vs. 32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

 No more powerful statement has ever been spoken. For the Word of God is truth and it is God’s Word spoken through the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Living Word that makes you free from sin and Satan and all of the lies of this world when you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and obey His Word!

Vs. 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”

 Now instead of rejoicing at Jesus Word they only become offended and once again show their lack of faith and ignorance. For instead of believing Him they only return to trusting in their heritage as Abrahams physical decedents. And in this they deny their own history which saw them in bondage to first Egypt, then Assyria, then Babylon, then Persia, then Greece and now Rome all because of their prideful arrogance and willfulness against the Word of God! That all said, if it is their own heritage they are choosing to trust in (As God’s chosen people) they should remember that they themselves (like all of humanity) are also descendants of the fall, of Adam and Eve, and thus they too bear the bondage of sin and Satan along with the rest of the world because of it. No one then who is outside of the Lord Jesus Christ is free, until He makes them free and that happens the moment anyone repents and believes!

Vs. 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

 The Lord Jesus now brings to light the truth about sin, and that is that sin does not serve us, serve our desires, goals, and pleasures etc., but when we sin, we only become slaves out it! And so, though the world says otherwise, (in countless ways and forums) this reality becomes undeniable in everyone’s life who sins! There is then no one exempt from this and so the Jews themselves though the physical descendants of Abraham are just like everyone else who sins, slaves of sin. The only difference or distinction between them or anyone else who thinks they are free outside of Christ is how it manifests itself in their person and lives. And yet it was hard for them to see this, because they considered themselves to be above such things, (consider Rom. 2:17-29), for they were God’s chosen people through whom He brought forth His Word into the world, and yet here they are contentious towards and arguing with the Son of God, the Word of God, but more than that they were already behind the scenes plotting His death! And yet in all of this they were only blind to their own evil hearts and desires because of their own sin.

Vs. 35 “And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.” 

 Seeing the Jews felt they were secure in God’s house because they were Abraham’s descendants, the Lord Jesus Christ now makes it clear that no one who is a slave abides in God’s house forever, but a son abides forever, thus both the Son of God and those who are born-again by Him, the children of God abide forever, everyone else then will be put out!

Vs. 36 “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

 Freedom then is what God’s Son Jesus Christ is offering and promising you! Freedom from sin, Satan and whatever kind of bondage you are under, freedom then to live and love and laugh abundantly! Freedom then from the past and freedom for the future! Freedom then to not have to be conformed to this Godless world!

Vs. 37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.”

 Having brought forth some great Spiritual truths, the Lord Jesus Christ now acknowledges to the Jews that He knows they are Abraham’s physical descendants, and yet so unlike Abraham they only want to kill Him, because as Jesus says to them, His Word has no place in them. The same then is true for everyone who does not believe in Him, for they will likewise have no desire for either His Person or His Word, and some will even want to kill Him and His own when His Words truths get to close to them!

Vs. 38 “I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” 

 The Lord Jesus now makes a marked distinction between Himself and them, saying that He Himself speaks just what He has seen with His Father who is God in heaven, while they only do what they have seen their own father do, and in doing so He will soon reveal just who their father is!

 Vs. 39-41 ³⁹ They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. ⁴⁰ But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. ⁴¹ You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God. 

 The Jews though hold fast to their genealogical heritage which proves nothing, since down through the ages many who have physically descended from Abrahams loins, by their own actions and lives reflected none of his faith, and thus proved that they were not his true descendants. Therefore, Jesus in no uncertain terms tells them that: “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. ⁴⁰ But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. ⁴¹ You do the deeds of your father.” ^{Vs. 40-41} Now when Jesus said this to them, they became highly agitated and so now they totally insult the Son of God by saying to Him, “We were not born of fornication”, thus completely denying His virgin birth, and accusing Jesus of illegitimacy! Having then reviled the Son of God in such an irreverent manner, they then have the gall to say that they have one Father—God. Now whether by this they also mean that they themselves have always remained spiritually faithful to the One true God is up for debate, but what is not up for debate is their historical record, which only shows and proves them completely self-deceived in this regard if they think that they have been faithful to God in heaven. For neither they nor mankind in general has ever proven themselves faithful to God, for it is only God who is faithful towards us. 

Vs. 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.

 Having heard and endured their insults the Lord Jesus remains level headed and continues to expose them for who they truly are, saying to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.” For truly no one can say that they love God and believe in Him and yet be hostile and antagonistic towards His own Son whom He sent! For as Jesus says, He did not come of Himself, but His Father in heaven sent Him to them! Their irreverence then towards Him now shows just what they think of God in heaven!

Vs. 43 “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.”

 The Lord Jesus once again calls them to account by saying to them, “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.” For Jesus wasn’t speaking here in parables and mysteries, He was speaking plainly to them, and yet they could not understand Him because they were not able to listen to His Word! It is then self-evident then that those who do not hear Jesus Word’s, who cannot listen to them, who are offended or put off by them, neither no God, nor can they rightly discern His Speech!

Vs. 44-45 ⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. ⁴⁵ But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

 The Lord Jesus Christ now reserves nothing in revealing who they are and what they and their true father are all about. For the devil’s children can be found both in the world, and in religious spheres, and worst of all even inside the Christian house of faith!, masquerading as people of God outwardly, but inwardly only being sons and daughters of the devil (consider Matt. 7:15-20; 24:5, 24; Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Cor. 11:3-4, 13-15; Phil. 3:2; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; Titus 1:10-11; 1 John 3:7-15; 4:1-6; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Rev. 2:2 and so many other passages). Now because their father is the devil and not Abraham, as they so arrogantly claim. The Lord Jesus Christ says that they want to do the desires of their father the devil, that is kill Him! And in this for no other reason than telling them the truth! For as Jesus says, the devil was a murderer from the beginning, and thus as he is so is his own! Therefore, the devil does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. “When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” Therefore, Jesus concludes by telling them that, “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.” Because they are just like their father the devil, who cannot stand the truth! There are then no stronger Words spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ in the N.T. against anyone other than these spoken here and those spoken by Him against the Pharisees in Matt. 23.

Vs. 46-47 ⁴⁶ Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? ⁴⁷ He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

The Lord Jesus Christ alone is Sinless both in Nature and in Character, and thus they had no just grounds for not believing Him, but worst of all seeking to kill Him! Thus is no one could convict Him of sin, and if He tells them the truth, why then do they not believe Him? The Lord Jesus Christ then (knowing that they have no answer) then will answer His own question, by saying, “He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore, you do not hear, because you are not of God.” That truth then applies not just to the unbelieving Jews but everywhere and in every generation to everyone who either believes in Him or not! 

Vs. 48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 

The Jews though are unmoved by Jesus’ rebuke and instead return to their sickening irreverent insults, saying to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Thus, not only denying Jesus descendancy through Abraham and then David to fulfill the Word of God, by calling Him a Samaritan, thus only being born through the despised people group who were apostates from the faith. But if that is not maddening enough, they then go on to say that He has a demon! 

Vs. 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.

 The Lord Jesus Christ though does not return insult for insult but instead retains His composure and tells them the truth that He does not have a demon, and that what He says and does is to honor His Father, and yet all they do is dishonor Him. 

Vs. 50 “And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.” 

 If the Jews felt it was okay to denigrate the Lord Jesus Christ in such horrible ways, they were only terribly deceived. For Jesus never came to seek His own glory, but the Fathers who sent Him! And it is God in heaven who seeks His Son’s honor and who Judges! 

Vs. 51 “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” 

 Now in the midst of enduring such insults meant to not only hurt Him but also undermine people’s faith in Him, the Lord Jesus Christ once again reaches out to the people by Promising all that, “if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” Keep here means to retain His Words within one’s heart, and thus continue to believe in Him, for if anyone does they shall never see death, not physical death, but Spiritual death by an eternal separation from God in hell! 

Vs. 52-53 ⁵² Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ ⁵³ Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?” 

Rather then believing Jesus and His Promises of everlasting life for themselves, they now only use His Words to defame Him even worse by saying that what He just said confirms to them He has a demon! For they could not, or would not believe that the Lord Jesus Christ Is Far Greater than Abraham and the prophets! For He alone can give life, and will restore to life all who believe in Him!

 Vs. 54-55 ⁵⁴ Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. ⁵⁵ Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.

 In saying such things, the Lord Jesus Christ wanted to make it clear that He was not venerating Himself, rather it was His Father who was honoring Him, that is the very God whom the unbelieving Jews were claiming to worship (vs. 54). Therefore, Jesus very plainly tells them that they have not known Him, for God is not known in merely observing rituals and sacrifices, nor is He known in keeping the commandments and traditions of men handed down from one generation to another. Rather God is known in believing and obeying His Word, and in this the Lord Jesus Christ alone has Perfect Knowledge of Him, for He keeps His Word! Therefore, if Jesus should deny that He Knows Him than He would be a liar like them, for they were lying about knowing Him, because if they had known Him, they would’ve immediately known His Son! 

Vs. 56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 

The Lord Jesus Christ now tells them that the man Abraham who they so highly venerate rejoiced to see His day, that is Abraham being alive with God the Father in heaven rejoiced when he saw that the Lord Jesus Christ was coming down from heaven to do and fulfill the Father’s Word and Will. And in this Jesus Christ was first coming to the people whom God had created, and established a covenant with through him. Thus, if Abraham was so excited to see Jesus’ day, why aren’t they? 

Vs. 57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 

The Jews though are unmoved by what Jesus has just told them, and instead judging Jesus according to the flesh they now say to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 

Vs. 58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” 

 The Lord Jesus Christ’s statement here then leaves no doubt as to whom He is, because before Abraham was, “I AM”. And that is the designation, the Name of God that God Himself revealed to Moses that he was to declare to Israel when in bondage in Egypt that “I AM” has visited them! Thus, the same God who came to Israel in Egypt to lead them out of bondage and into the Promised Land is the same God who has now come down from heaven as the Son of Man/Son of God in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ! (see Rev. 1:8). 

Vs. 59 “Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” 

 When Jesus said that He is “I Am”, they took up stones to throw at Him to kill Him, for to them Jesus was committing blasphemy to claim to be God, however Jesus Christ is God, and so the sin and offense lies with them in not believing Him and seeking to kill Him again! And so just as easily as they took up stones to kill Him, He likewise hid Himself from them, and went out of the Temple, and going through the midst of them, He passed by them all unharmed by any of them. This act then by the Jews in the Temple shows that they have rejected Christ the Lord whom God sent to them!

Scripture Quotations

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson. 

John 7:45–53

⁴⁵ Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?” ⁴⁶ The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” ⁴⁷ Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? ⁴⁸ Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? ⁴⁹ But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” ⁵⁰ Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, ⁵¹ “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” ⁵² They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.” ⁵³ And everyone went to his own house.

Commentary

Vs. 45-46 ⁴⁵ Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?” ⁴⁶ The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”

Now the officers who were previously sent to arrest Jesus, (John 7:32), now return to chief priests and Pharisees who sent them. However, Jesus is not with them! For when the officers heard Jesus speak, they were afraid to arrest Him. Therefore, when being questioned by the chief priests and Pharisees as to why they did not arrest Him, they said to them, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” Thus, the fear of God had fallen on them! 

Vs. 47-49 ⁴⁷ Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? ⁴⁸ Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? ⁴⁹ But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”

 The Pharisees though know no such fear, and so rather then heading their own officers’ frightful intuition about Jesus’ Person, Authority and Power, they only scold them, saying, … “Are you also deceived? ⁴⁸ Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him?” ^{vs. 47-48} Thus in their self-deceived pride and arrogance they attribute only to themselves the ability to righty discern as to who Jesus’ Person is, therefore, whatever Jesus said or did would never convince them to believe in Him, because they had already rejected Him. And so, in their frustration at not having their evil done and Jesus arrested, they now call the crowd, the very people whom they teach and lead, accursed! Saying they do not know the law! and yet they have enough sensibilities to perceive the One who gave it, while those Pharisees and rulers of the people are only blind to Him, even while working in accordance with the Law right before them!

Vs. 50-53 ⁵⁰ Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, ⁵¹ “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” ⁵² They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.” ⁵³ And everyone went to his own house.

 Nicodemus though a Pharisee was not being swayed by his piers desires to reject and condemn Jesus Person, for as the Scripture notes he had already spoken with Jesus privately, and it was there that Jesus shared with him (and us all) the need to be born again to enter the Kingdom of heaven (read John 3). And so, Nicodemus though not yet a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ was certainly not hostile or antagonistic towards Him, (as were his piers), but was more and more beginning to believe in Him. Thus, Nicodemus having heard the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, now rebukes his own piers for not even listening to Jesus’ Words unbiasedly and examining Him and His works justly, by saying to them, “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” ^{vs. 51} However they have neither the desire nor the patience to consider the Lord Jesus Christ’s Words and Works, for once again by their own preconceived notions of what the Messiah should be and do they reject Christ and now Nicodemus’ counsel and harshly criticize him, saying to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.” ^{vs. 52} However in saying that they themselves in their rage against Jesus (and now all sound counsel) are wrong! For Jonah the prophet arose from Galilee, and later it would be him that Jesus would cite to them as pre-cursor evidence of His own Resurrection from the dead (see Matt. 12:38-45, vs. 40). Verse 53 then rightly ends by saying that everyone went to their own house, for just as those who truly believe will not be swayed otherwise, neither will those who are hardened and do not believe be convinced to repent and believe!

Scripture Quotations

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson. 

John 7:40–44

⁴⁰ Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” ⁴¹ Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? ⁴² Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” ⁴³ So there was a division among the people because of Him. ⁴⁴ Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

Commentary

Vs. 40-42 ⁴⁰ Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” ⁴¹ Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? ⁴² Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”

 Now when Jesus cried out on the last day of the feast: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” ^{John 7:37-38} Many people in the crowd were spiritually awakened! For they began to say, “Truly this is the Prophet.” ^{Vs. 40} While others said, “This is the Christ.” ^{Vs. 41} However mixed in amongst those who began to see and perceive who Jesus truly is, were those who remained blinded to Him, who following the line of reasoning of their scribes and Pharisees said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? ⁴² Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” ^{Vs. 41-42} Now the Lord Jesus Christ did indeed come from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, for that was were He was born, however Jesus Christ did not grow up in Bethlehem, (as they were assuming he must), but rather He first dwelt in Egypt to fulfill the Scripture which said, “out of Egypt I called My son” (Num 24:11; Hosea 11:1). Then He grew up in Nazareth of Galilee to fulfill the Scripture which said: “He shall be called a Nazarene” (Jud. 13:5). And so, by focusing in on only one prophecy about Christ, they missed the whole prophetic picture, which clearly foretells and portrays the Lord Jesus Christ’s Person and Life very accurately, and thus without dispute or question.

Vs. 43-44 ⁴³ So there was a division among the people because of Him. ⁴⁴ Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

 And so, with these conflicting points of view amongst the Jews there was a division amongst them about who Jesus was. “Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.” ^{Vs. 44} Once again then some of the Jews wanted to take Jesus, that is take Him by force of arms, however no one laid hands on Him, because of Jesus Words.

 

Scripture Quotations

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson. 

John 7:32–39

³² The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. ³³ Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. ³⁴ You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.” ³⁵ Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? ³⁶ What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”

Commentary

Vs. 32 “The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him.”

 Now the Pharisees were always on the periphery of anywhere Jesus taught and spoke, for they themselves were not only teachers of the common people but they very often acted like a “religious police force” enforcing not only the Law of Moses, but also their own doctrines and commandments of men, thus their traditions handed down to them from their fathers. And so, with the crowds murmuring things about Jesus, and some saying that He is the Christ (i.e. Messiah), the Pharisees along with the chief priests (who had jurisdiction in the Temple and its grounds) send officers to take Him, because Jesus was to them only a threat to their own privileges and reign as rulers of the people of God.

Vs. 33-34 ³³ Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. ³⁴ You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.”

 Jesus now tells both the Pharisees, the people, and the officers sent to take Him, that though He is now present with them, He shall only be so for a little while longer, for soon He will go to God the Father who sent Him. Thus, if they thought they had dominion or control over Him they were terribly deceived. And so, on that day the Lord Jesus Christ now tells them that they will seek Him but they will not find Him, for where He is in heaven (both current and future) they cannot come, because they have rejected Him!

Vs. 35-36 ³⁵ Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? ³⁶ What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”

 These people then are baffled by Jesus’ Words, for where there is no faith there is only human reasoning, and human reasoning always ends with wrong conclusions about the Lord Jesus Christ and His Words. And so, with that their plans to take and seize Jesus come undone, for there is nothing in His Words by which they may justly seize Him.

Vs. 37-39 ³⁷ On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” ³⁹ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

 Now on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles that was being held in Jerusalem, to which Jews from everywhere came to observe, and thus dwelt in booths or huts to observe the feast as commanded in the Law, the Lord Jesus Christ now cries out to them all, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink…” ^{vs. 37} For having observed this commanded feast and ritual according to the Law and observance of it, for a whole week, there would have been many who would’ve still felt that something was still lacking in their souls. For keeping God’s commanded feasts and sacrifices will never satisfy anyone’s spiritual thirsts and desires, just as being baptized, or going to church, or reading the Bible, or taking communion never will until one comes to the Lord Jesus Christ in repentance and faith, and thus believes in Him for themselves. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ knowing this, also says and promises that anyone who believes in Him as the Scripture has said, out of His heart will flow rivers of living water (vs. 38)! Which is an incredible promise that not only will your own spiritual thirst and desires be fully satisfied, but you yourself will also be, because of the Holy Spirits regeneration of your person (vs. 39, Titus 3:4-7), a person whose heart now flows rivers of living water! Thus, whether in word, or song, or deed you will be a blessing to others! Thus from cursing to blessing, from bitterness or sadness to now laughter and joy, from always seeing things negatively to now seeing hope for all, or from ruthless cruel judgment to now wanting God’s grace, mercy and true justice for all, from unmitigated hatred of someone or some people to now unconditional love for all, all because of God’s Holy Spirit flowing in and through your own heart! Which is far more transforming and enrichening than anything else one may do or have in of themselves. And that is one of the “hidden” secrets of the Gospel, that not only are you yourself saved and restored to spiritual life with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but you yourself will also be completely transformed into a new creation, i.e. person, by God’s Spirit through whom God will now reach, bless, and save others as well! Which is one of life’s most rewarding experiences, to see people come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus themselves be transformed as well! “Therefore, come one and all taste and see that the Lord Jesus Christ is loving, gracious, merciful, and kind, for when you do, you will with joy draw water from the well of salvation! (Isaiah 12:3). And so here we have in verse 39 the Promise of God’s Spirit being poured out into everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, thus there is nothing you need to do to receive the Holy Spirit other than believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, for as with salvation being the sole work of God, so too with His Spirit coming to seal and transform for the Day of Redemption everyone who believes in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ!

Scripture Quotations

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson. 

John 7:25–31

²⁵ Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? ²⁶ But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? ²⁷ However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” ²⁸ Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. ²⁹ But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.” ³⁰ Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. ³¹ And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”

Commentary

Vs. 25-27 ²⁵ Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? ²⁶ But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? ²⁷ However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”

With Jesus’ bold exhortation and rebuke of the Jews leadership assembled in Jerusalem for the feast, some of the people of Jerusalem now begin to say amongst themselves, … “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? ²⁶ But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?” ^{vs. 25-26}

However, their wondering about Jesus, and their bewilderment about their leaderships in action towards Him, is all short lived. For no sooner have they said that, that they now also say, “However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” ^{Vs. 27}

Thus in their statement we see their own unbelief about Him, for they thought Jesus was just a carpenters son from Nazareth, as well they thought that no one would know where the Messiah is from, and yet the Scripture gives plenty of indisputable prophetic evidence to link the Messiah with Jesus Christ who Himself has come from God to them and us all.

Vs. 28-29 ²⁸ Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. ²⁹ But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

 Jesus then hearing what they were all saying and reasoning amongst themselves now cries out while teaching in the Temple to them all, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. ²⁹ But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

 Now in saying as much, Jesus was telling them that they “knew” Him as Jesus of Nazareth, however they did not Know Him as the Son of God, who did not come on His own Will, but of the Will of God the Father who sent Him! Therefore, because they do not know Him as the Son of God, they neither know God the Father in heaven, however as Jesus says, He knows Him, for He is from Him, for He sent Him!

Vs. 30 Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

Having heard that strong rebuke of their unbelief from Jesus, they once again seek to take Him, “…but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.”

Vs. 31 And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”

 The Lord Jesus Christ’s bold Word and stance really polarized the people, for on the one hand you had people wanting to take and kill Him (i.e. primarily the Jews leadership), and on the other there were people who taking the evidence of His Works and Words at face value began to fear and say amongst themselves, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”

Scripture Quotations

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson. 

John 7:14–24

¹⁴ Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. ¹⁵ And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” ¹⁶ Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. ¹⁷ If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. ¹⁸ He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. ¹⁹ Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” ²⁰ The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?” ²¹ Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. ²² Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. ²³ If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? ²⁴ Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

Commentary

Vs. 14 “Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.”

 Now Jesus around the middle of the feast now goes up into the Temple and teaches, for had He tried to do so at the start of the seven day feast they likely would’ve sized Him, but with the leadership now being occupied with it, and the people being fully engaged in it, it was the perfect time to show Himself once again and begin teaching God’s Word to them.

 Vs. 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”

 When the Jews heard Jesus expounding the Word of God, they marveled that the supposed carpenter’s “son” could have such insights and understanding, for they said, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” For all those who take that “religion” is something to be studied and learned like earning a university degree, likewise only miss that it is God who teaches and instructs everyone one of us who believe in His Son (1 John 2:27)!

Vs. 16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.

 Having heard the Jews wonderings about Jesus and His insights and skill in expounding the Word of God, Jesus now tells them that what He is speaking is not of Himself, but His doctrine is the very Word of God (i.e. doctrine from God) who sent Him.

Vs. 17 “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.”

 The Lord Jesus Christ now makes it clear that anyone, Jews or otherwise, who wish to do God’s Will, that God will reveal to them that what the Lord Jesus Christ is speaking is not from His own Will, but God’s Will.

Vs. 18 “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.”

 Here the Lord Jesus Christ makes it clear that He is not like those who speak from themselves, (who only gather words and reasonings and ideas from inside themselves to impress people) for they only seek their own glory. Rather His sole motivation in what He speaks and what He does is to glorify God who sent Him, for Jesus is true; for He alone not only lives and speaks the truth from God, but He alone is truly motivated by only wanting to glorify God in heaven, something that can be said of no one except Him. Therefore, of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, it can and must be said that there is no unrighteousness in Him!

Vs. 19 “Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?”

 Now the Jews prided themselves on having been given by God the Law through Moses, and yet as Jesus now says to them, none of them keeps the law, for if they did, they would not already be plotting (behind the scenes) to kill Him.

Vs. 20 The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?”

 When the people heard Jesus say that to them, they got really mean and nasty and said to Him, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?” Thus, they harken back to the blasphemy that their scribes had already spoken against Him (see Mark 3:22-30). The people then of Jerusalem and Judea (i.e. the “Jews”) though centered in the religious capital of God sadly were some of the most ardent and fiercest opponents of the Lord Jesus Christ because He constantly challenged them by not keeping their commandments of men, but rather He taught and obeyed the commandments of God!

Vs. 21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel.

 Here the one work that Jesus did was His healing the crippled man at the pool of Bethsaida in Jerusalem, which then brought about their great consternation and wrath at Him for doing so on he Sabbath, so much so that from that point forward they were now seeking an opportunity to “legally” seize and kill Him!

Vs. 22-24 ²² Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. ²³ If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? ²⁴ Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

 In defense of His doing so the Lord Jesus Christ now recalls to them that their circumcision that was commanded from God was first given to Abraham and all his descendants after him to keep so as to remain in a covenant relationship with God Himself. And thus, it came down to them through their fathers, i.e. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, not Moses. And so, with the giving of the Law through Moses this act of circumcision came with it, and was still required of them to remain in a covenant relationship with God; but now through the law; and was when necessary performed on the Sabbath on a male child on the eighth day after his birth, so that the law of Moses should not be broken by any of them. Therefore, Jesus says, “If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?” ^{vs. 23} Therefore, if a man can receive circumcision on the Sabbath (which was a minor operation that removed the foreskin of the male flesh) and not be charged with violating it, how much more can (and should) a man receive complete healing of his body on the Sabbath by the Son of Man! The Jews anger then at Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath was then utterly and completely unjustified! Therefore, in closing Jesus rebukes them by saying, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” Thus if you see someone “working” on the Sabbath, but what they are doing is totally beneficial to that persons well being and welfare are they really violating it, for the Sabbath law was in one sense given to give rest to God’s people, and not be ruthlessly and heavy handedly applied against those who are only doing good towards others on it! For do doctors and nurses break the Sabbath when they are working on it, I think not! That all said, in the New Covenant there is neither circumcision required nor Sabbath observances commanded, and thus we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are not commanded nor required to do, nor observe, any of those things. For in Christ we have our circumcision and Sabbath rest (Col. 2:11-16).

Scripture Quotations

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson. 

John 7:10–13

¹⁰ But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. ¹¹ Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” ¹² And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” ¹³ However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

Commentary

Vs. 10 “But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.”

 Now when Jesus’ brothers departed and went to the feast of Tabernacles at Jerusalem, He also went up, but not with them, but secretly. For had He gone up there with them, the Jews, that is their leaders, would have seized Him and tried to kill, however as He previously said to His brothers His time had not yet come. And so, when it was time for Him to be Crucified, and thus revealed to one and to all, then He would allow them to do so.

Vs. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?”

 Obviously, the Jews wanted to seize Jesus, and so knowing that this was a feast that all the covenant males in Israel were required to attend they sought Him there, however they did not find Him.

Vs. 12-13 ¹² And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” ¹³ However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

 Here we see that the people were divided about Jesus, with some seeing His good works and hearing His Words, saying He is good! While others not liking the things that He as the Son of God was saying to them, said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” Now this division is not unique to them, as people in every generation will either find Jesus and His disciples to be good or not, which is really more revealing about them and their faith and character (or lack thereof) than Him. And even though the people were divided about Him, no one had the courage to speak openly of Him for they feared the Jews, that is they feared being identified with Him and what their leaders might do to them if they acknowledged Him.

Scripture Quotations

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson. 

John 7:1–9

  ¹ After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. ² Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. ³ His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. ⁴ For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” ⁵ For even His brothers did not believe in Him. ⁶ Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. ⁷ The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. ⁸ You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” ⁹ When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

Commentary

Vs. 1 “After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.”

 Having declared His Word openly and shown Himself to be the Son of God in Judea; indeed, Jesus was declared as much by His Father; Jesus now walks in Galilee (the northern part of Israel) because the Jews in Judea (the southern region) sought to kill Him. Now the Jews mentioned here generally is indicating the leadership of the Jews that was centered in Judea. For these hated Jesus most bitterly, though this does not exclude the people there.

Vs. 2 “Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.”

 The Feast of Tabernacles was a yearly Jewish feast at the end of the harvest. In keeping it Israel was to recall how God made Israel dwell in booths when He delivered them from Egypt (Lev. 23:39-44; Deut. 16:13-17), and as with the other feasts all the males in Israel were required to attend it.

Vs. 3-5 ³ His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. ⁴ For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” ⁵ For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

 The Lord Jesus Christ’s brothers now urge Him to go to Judea to prove Himself to His disciples that He is the Messiah, and thus show Himself openly to the world as such (vs. 3-4). Now this they say to Him after His disciples had departed from Him, and thus they are not saying this as men who believed in Him, rather in their own unbelief, they too are only seeking proof of His Messiahship from Him. Nonetheless both His Word and His Works prove that He is the Messiah! And later His death on the Cross and Resurrection from the grave will solidify it in the hearts and minds of all who will come to believe in Him. For who can deny the Presence and Power of His Holy Spirit now working in through all His disciples after His Ascension back to God in heaven! And yet the ones closest to Jesus, by family association, did not want to see Jesus (at that time) as the One come from God to them. Nonetheless their cynicism about Him now will later change into true faith as they themselves will later become disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Finial note: Jesus brothers here are those whom Mary bore after the birth of Jesus, for until then she had remained a virgin, and thus they were the naturally conceived sons of Joseph.

 Vs. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.

 Here the Lord Jesus makes it clear that His time, i.e. manifestation to the world will not come yet, at least not until His Death and Resurrection and then Ascension, for then the Holy Spirit being poured out will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. For then no one can deny what they themselves feel and experience (John 16:7-10). That said, when the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is revealed to the world in all of His heavenly glory, it will be for the Judgment of this world, and at that time it will be a terrifying time for the world, and those who belong to it and the ruler of it! Now that Jesus says to them that their time is always ready, means that at anytime they could come and go as they please with no one regarding them. For the world does not see anyone who agrees with, (or aligns themselves with it), as a “threat,” only those who take a stand against its ungodly works and ways. The preacher of righteousness then is never more unwelcomed (and persecuted) then when he comes into contact with the world, and those who belong to it. Which may explain why many preachers much prefer to preach to the congregation, then preach repentance to the world! And yet it is only by repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ that the world maybe saved!

Vs. 7 “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.”

 Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ makes it clear that world cannot hate them, His brothers, or anyone else who is living according to it. However, it hates Him, (and all who belong to Him), because not only does He testify that its works are evil, but His people in obeying Him, by their very persons and lives likewise show that this worlds works are evil! For only when sin and every kind of degenerate behavior becomes acceptable and “normalized” does the world get their “crowd immunity” from conviction of wrong doing.

Vs. 8-9 ⁸ You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” ⁹ When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

 Therefore, in rebuking His brothers the Lord Jesus Christ tells them to go up to the feast, for His time has not fully come. For He will be fully revealed to them, and to all in His own time, not theirs, or anyone else’s! And so, having sent them away Jesus now remains in Galilee (vs. 9).

Scripture Quotations

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.